THE SECRET KEEPER 🧪Lex L.
James had been by Lex Luthor’s side for nearly three years, ever since he’d stepped in to fill the void left by Mercy Graves after her unfortunate accident. Mercy had been a force of nature — calculating, stoic, and unfazed by the world’s chaos. James, by contrast, was softer, a little more fragile on the edges. But in a way, that made him perfect for the role he played.
It had all started when Lex had hired him fresh out of his prison stint. James had seen the offer as a lifeline, a way out of a dead-end life. He’d always felt a kind of kinship with Lex — both had been molded by broken homes, by abusive parents, by a world that seemed to want nothing but to tear them apart. Lex had always been the one to pull the strings, to take control. And James? Well, he’d always been good at staying in the shadows, making sure things stayed just out of view of the world.
Tonight, however, things felt different.
James stepped into Lex's office with a subtle unease crawling up his spine. Lex sat behind his desk, the city lights casting sharp shadows across his face. He was the picture of calculated calm, a man who had always been two steps ahead, always planning for the worst, always prepared for the inevitable fallout.
"James," Lex began, his voice low and purposeful, "please, sit."
James did as told, his heart already racing. He knew that tone. That was the tone Lex used when he was about to drop something monumental.
Lex took his time, leaning back in his chair and steepling his fingers as though deep in thought. Then, without warning, he reached for the decanter on his desk. "Bourbon?" he asked, his eyebrow raised slightly.
James hesitated only for a moment before nodding. It had become something of a ritual for them, the shared drink after a day of dealing with the madness of their lives. Lex poured two glasses, the amber liquid catching the light as he handed one to James.
"To us," Lex said, a rare, almost soft smile curling his lips.
James clinked his glass against Lex’s, but there was an edge to his smile, a nervous tension that wasn’t lost on Lex. The words that followed would change everything.
"I’ve decided to merge LexCorp with Wayne Enterprises," Lex said, letting the words settle into the space between them.
James blinked. "Wayne Enterprises?" he repeated, trying to absorb the gravity of it. "But… Bruce Wayne’s been missing for years."
"Yes," Lex said, eyes gleaming with something darker, something dangerous. "But his half-brother, Thomas Wayne, has bought the company. He's agreed to the merger. Though…" Lex paused, looking at James with an inscrutable expression, "no one has seen him. Not a single person outside of me and a few of my more trusted associates."
James felt a shiver run through him. "So, what does that mean for us? For LexCorp?"
Lex leaned forward, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the edge of his desk. "It means change, James. Major change. Bruce Wayne's legacy, his wealth, his influence, all of that is now mine, in a sense. But…"
James furrowed his brow. "But?"
Lex sighed and set his glass down. "But this is where I make the hard decisions. James, you’ve been invaluable to me, truly. Your loyalty, your intelligence, your discretion," Lex’s eyes locked with his, intense and piercing, "I appreciate you. More than you know."
James’ heart skipped a beat. It was rare for Lex to say things like that. He was always calculating, always playing the long game. A compliment from him felt like an unexpected gift, but it also came with a certain weight.
Lex’s smile faltered slightly, and his eyes turned colder. "But this is where our paths diverge, James."
A chill ran through James, a feeling of dread settling in his chest. "What do you mean?"
Lex stood and walked to the window, looking out over the city. "I need you to leave for the day. I think you’ve earned it. You’ve been loyal to me, to LexCorp, and now… it’s time for you to rest."
Rest? James couldn’t make sense of it. This wasn’t just a dismissal; it felt like the end of something. He opened his mouth to say something, to protest, but Lex didn’t give him the chance.
"You’ve done enough," Lex said, his back to James, his voice final.
James stood up, hesitating for just a moment longer before nodding, his heart heavy with something he couldn’t quite place. "I’ll be back tomorrow, then."
Lex didn’t answer. He just waved a dismissive hand. And with that, James left the office.
Later that night, James sat in his small apartment, staring blankly at his phone when the message came through: Lex Luthor was dead. Suicide, most likely.
It didn’t seem real. The man who had been his mentor, his confidant, the one constant in his turbulent life, was gone. James could barely breathe.
The next day, a new face appeared. Thomas Wayne. The illegitimate half-brother of Bruce Wayne. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with an air of authority that immediately reminded James of Lex. Thomas was also the one now in charge of the merger, having acquired Wayne Enterprises and taken full control.
And that’s how James ended up in the private gym beneath the Wayne mansion, where Thomas was waiting by the pool. Water splashed gently around his ankles as he gazed down at James with a cool smile.
"I often come down here when I need to clear my mind," Thomas said casually, as if discussing the weather. "Sometimes, you need a little space to think, don't you agree?"
James nodded numbly, still processing the bizarre sequence of events. "I… I don’t know what to think anymore."
Thomas smirked. "Understandable. This all must be quite overwhelming." He paused, his expression shifting to something a little more... calculated. "But I think you're starting to understand."
James didn’t respond immediately, his mind still caught on the fact this man was his new boss, replacing Lex Luthor. No one could ever replace Lex Luthor.
"So, what now?" James finally asked, his voice sounding strained, unsure whether he wanted an answer or not.
Thomas walked to a nearby wet bar and began rummaging through the shelves. James couldn't help but feel his curiosity peak. There was something almost hypnotic about Thomas's movements, the way he handled the liquor with an air of casual expertise.
"How do you take it?" Thomas asked without looking up, his fingers grazing the edge of the bourbon decanter.
James blinked, momentarily stunned by the question. It was an innocuous enough request, but for some reason, it made his stomach tighten. How did Thomas know? James had always kept his love for bourbon relatively low-key, a quiet indulgence after long, stressful days with Lex. It wasn't something he shared with anyone, not even with Lex all that often.
"Uh…" James hesitated, his brow furrowing as his mind scrambled for an explanation. "How did you—"
Thomas chuckled softly, glancing up at James with a playful glint in his eye. "I have a knack for details. And I’ve heard that the Luthor family has a very particular taste in their choice of spirits. Let’s just say I’ve been paying attention."
James’ heart skipped a beat. The way Thomas said it—so casual, yet knowing—made something inside James stir uncomfortably. Was he still dealing with Lex, or was this someone new? Someone in control of everything now?
Thomas poured two glasses of bourbon with practiced precision and handed one to James, his eyes never leaving his face.
"To new beginnings," Thomas said softly, his tone laden with something deeper, something James couldn’t quite place.
James took the glass reluctantly, his fingers brushing Thomas's ever so slightly as he accepted it. "I guess this is where I stop asking questions and just... follow your lead?" He tried to sound playful, but there was a crack in his voice.
Thomas smiled, a slow, knowing smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. He raised his own glass. "You can ask questions. In fact, I encourage it. But some answers, James, you’ll have to find for yourself."
James nodded, staring down into the amber liquid swirling in his glass. He wasn’t sure whether he felt more at ease or more on edge. He took a careful sip, letting the warmth of the bourbon spread through him, grounding him just slightly.
James watched as Thomas slid a bar tile to reveal a button. Upon pressing it, a stairway opened in the floor, making James step back so as not to fall in. He followed an unfazed Thomas and descended into a hidden lab beneath the gym. The cool, sterile environment was in stark contrast to the warmth of the pool above.
And then James saw it: clones. Dozens of them, floating in large tanks. His breath caught in his throat.
"What is this?" James whispered, his voice trembling.
Thomas smiled as he gestured to the tanks. "These… these are me. I’m not just Thomas Wayne. I’m Lex Luthor. I created these bodies from Bruce Wayne’s DNA and a few others. I used Kryptonian technology to transfer my mind into one of these clones. The life I had before was too dangerous. But now… now I’m starting fresh."
James was speechless. It didn’t make sense. How could this be true? But there was something in Thomas’s eyes, something in the way he spoke that made James feel… certain.
"You’re… you’re Lex," James whispered, the realization settling heavily in his chest.
Lex — no, Thomas — nodded, stepping closer to him. "I’m Lex Luthor. And you’re my secret keeper now, James. I trust you."
The words felt like a weight on his shoulders, but at the same time, they felt like freedom. It was the truth. The one thing that had always been elusive. The person James had known all along, the one he had tried so desperately to protect, had never truly been gone.
Before James could respond, Lex reached out and pulled him into a gentle embrace. A soft kiss pressed against his forehead, and for the first time in a long while, James felt at peace.
"Don’t worry," Lex murmured. "I’ll explain everything. But for now, come with me to dinner. There’s so much we have to discuss."
As James left the lab with Thomas, his mind was reeling. He found himself glancing at the strange, familiar man as he walked beside him, through the mansion corridors all the way to the limousine. There was so much to take in, so much to understand. But one thing was clear: whatever came next, James was in this for the long haul.
And perhaps, just perhaps, this was the beginning of something even bigger.
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